September 26, 2003

Let's talk about the Women's World Cup.: I watched the US-Nigeria match last night, and I went to Canada-Germany and Japan Argentina last week in Columbus. I haven't seen any matches in the other groups, but this US team looks to me to be a notch or two above the rest of the field. Can they be beat? They are playing out of their minds right now. Are they the greatest team the US has ever fielded in international sports? I think they might be.

The U.S. haven't been tested yet. Let's revisit this question in the knockout rounds, when, if current form holds, the U.S.'s half in the bracket will contain Norway, Germany and China (!). Brazil, meanwhile, are laughing all the way to the final.

Hamm almost had 3 goals before the 14th minute last night. Friggin' unbelievable!!!(and cute as hell) First she takes a nasty forearm jab to the ribs before potting a penalty kick. Next she lobs a perfect set into that gangly teammate of hers which draws the goalie out to challenge the header while the ball floats into the top corner. To almost get the trick, she sets up low to the left of the goal showing cross, then curves a beauty behind the defender and off the crossbar. What is her international goal total? 144 or someshit. Friggin' unbelievable!!!

Garfield girls can play, as long as it is only with other girls; the best of them wouldn't cut the mustard in even a mediocre mens team, but it makes no difference. If girls want to play and people want to watch fine, but don't pretend it as good as the real thing because it isn't. I watched Brazil V Norway and after about 5 minutes had totally lost the will to live.

So, I mean, that game was fun to watch, and they are very good and all, but... um, really, 'greatest american international team ever'? Jordan, Bird, Magic and a few other guys would beg to disagree. It's easy to forget, but every player on that team will be in the Hall Of Fame, except maybe Chris Mullin and definitely Christian Laettner (who at that point was the winningest college player of all time). Ewing and Robinson in their primes at center. Malone and Barkley (again, in primes) at PF. Drexler, Pippen, Stockton... never, ever will another team come close. Just not possible.

I can't believe China tied Australia--they had about ten trillion corner kicks and could not put it in. I don't know what their deal is--I love the way they play, the constant rhythmic backpassing and possession-dominance, but they should've creamed Ghana and Australia and instead they probably have to beat Russia to get to the next round. They don't look like they can beat any of the other strong favorites. Brazil looks really good. The United States looks unbeatable. I might be saying Germany looks unbeatable if ESPN/ABC had put one of their games on teevee. But the winner is coming out of one of these three. The Scandinavian and Asian teams just can't outplay them. There you are.

According to Soccer America, they're picking Germany to win. The USA has a terrible scheduling problem going into the semis where they have to travel cross-country the day before their almost certain matchup with Germany in Portland. Meanwhile, Germany only has to travel to Civic Stadium because the quaters for them are in Portland. The USA will not be fresh, and Germany actually has a good defense. (Sweden was supposed to have a good, veteran defense as well, and they stunk in the first half) Meinert, who I believe was the 2003 WUSA MVP, is a strong leader. North Korea, who has beaten China a couple times recently, will be a tough foe. Btw, the USA women were shutout 3-0 by the UVA reserves. (!)

Having watched a few of the WWC games now, as well as a few WUSA games, I'm starting to understand the complaints of the English contingent. The lack of speed and strength, for instance, mean that passes aren't as crisp (and therefore unable to squeeze through a pair of defenders) and all the players are clumped closer together (and therefore requiring passes that can squeeze through two defenders).

I haven't watched any of the women's football (can't get it on my tv), but I have to say that I like women's tennis. Not only more subtle and skilled than the mens game (although the mens game contains more power and speed), but also great eye candy. Can't see why I wouldn't watch women's football if it were on. Two of my favourite things to watch in one go. Yum.

I wouldn't count any of the hoops "Dream Teams" as being superior to this bunch on the grounds that this is an actual team, rather than a pasted together one shot. Think about it-- the USA women, the core group, have been doing this for years. As for the "hot or not" question, I think that the women's footballers are mighty buff, andt is a look I like. Soccer togs are not particularly flattering, but the look works for me.